Who said “Tyrants seldom want pretexts.”?

Verified

Edmund Burke. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceA Letter to a Member of the National Assembly (1791)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: A Letter to a Member of the National Assembly (1791).

APA

Burke, E. (n.d.). Tyrants seldom want pretexts. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39793-tyrants-seldom-want-pretexts/

MLA

Burke, Edmund. “Tyrants seldom want pretexts.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39793-tyrants-seldom-want-pretexts/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Burke, Edmund. “Tyrants seldom want pretexts.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39793-tyrants-seldom-want-pretexts/.